The First Encounter

It had been eight days since we started heading north toward the mountains.

On the very first day, the thing we feared most happened, a blizzard. A powerful one at that, forcing us to take shelter in a cave for two days until it passed.

On the fourth day, we found massive footprints in the snow. A large creature. Though uneasy, we pressed onward.

The fifth day was the worst. We encountered the beast itself, a Razorblade Tiger. As its name suggested, it had razor-sharp teeth, claws, and even a tail shaped like a sword. We had no choice but to take a detour, adding another day to our journey.

By the sixth day, our plan was to push forward as quickly as possible, but a Snow Wyvern migration forced us into a tree graveyard. Wyverns were known to swoop down on prey, so walking out in the open was far too dangerous.

The forest of dead trees wasn’t particularly difficult to cross, just irritating. Rapid Rabbits ambushed us constantly, springing out whenever we stepped into their territory. Fortunately, they were easy prey. Reliana’s lightning magic cut them down with frightening skill, and hunting had already become second nature to me.

The seventh day was the calmest. We marched without rest, camped at night, took turns keeping watch, and hunted during the day.

The remaining days passed without incident, save for Reliana’s endless complaints about comfort.

Now, at last, we stood at the foot of the mountains, gazing up at the stone staircase carved into its side. After a brief glance at each other, we nodded in agreement and began climbing. Step by step, until finally, the flat summit revealed itself.

***

“So that’s Gravemorne…” I muttered, peering down at the city below.

“Probably,” Reliana replied, her tone sharp. “It certainly looks like a place crawling with criminals.”

She wasn’t wrong. The streets below were choked with smoke, wooden houses clustered together, dirt roads winding between them.

“Let’s go,” I said, going down the slope. Reliana followed close behind.

After some time, three figures came into view, each clad in armor and armed.

The first was a black-haired woman with a sword at her hip. The second, a bald man carrying a greatsword across his back. The third, a refined man wearing glasses.

All three bore the same mark—(∞)—the brand of criminals. The woman’s was etched on her chest, the bald man’s on his head, and the man with glasses bore his at the hollow of his throat.

I wouldn’t have thought much of them, except the bald man’s gaze lingered far too long on us… on Reliana. His words explained why.

“Well, if it isn’t the daughter of that crazy bitch!” he sneered, shrugging his shoulders mockingly.

Reliana’s glare was ice-cold as she snapped back in a taunting voice, copying the man's mannerism.

“Oh look! If it isn’t the bald-headed freak who lusted after one of the king’s concubines.”

His veins bulged as his hand gripped the hilt of his greatsword. “Bitch! Say that again, I dare you!”

Did they know each other? And… he lusted after one of the king’s wives? Was that the crime he committed?

Reliana brushed past him with a scoff. “Seph, let’s go—”

Before she could finish, a sudden gust of wind rushed by. My eyes caught the blur of steel, his greatsword already swinging toward her.

I was too slow. But I had been ready. The moment his gaze turned strange, I prepared my magic. An earth spike shot up from between his feet, aimed for his chin.

I had never killed a man before. But if it meant protecting her, I would. The spike stopped mere inches from his face, his sword the same distance from Reliana.

Then, another gust of wind.

The man in glasses appeared, one hand catching the blade, the other shattering my spike as if it were nothing.

It all happened in seconds. He was fast, stronger than the bald man, and sharper too.

“Gram. Stop wasting time,” he said calmly, as though nothing had happened.

The bald man, Gram, clicked his tongue. “Tch. Be grateful. You’ll live… unlike your mother.” He sheathed his sword, spat at Reliana’s feet, and continued up the stairs. Reliana’s eyes glowed faintly as she glared daggers into his back.

Her gift…

Meanwhile, the man in glasses turned his gaze on me, adjusting his frames with quiet interest.

“Your name is Seph, right?” His voice carried the weight of authority, his eyes looking down at me like a king addressing a peasant. “If you had killed Gram, I would have killed you. You knew that, so why bother attacking?”

“At least I would’ve taken someone with me,” I answered firmly.

That was the truth. These past few days, I had grown attached to Reliana. She was only the second person I’d met here. If she died, I would’ve killed him without hesitation, even if it meant my own death.

The man smirked faintly and pushed up his glasses. “Seph. I’ll remember that name.” With that, he turned and followed his companions until they disappeared from view.

I exhaled slowly, tension draining from my shoulders. Those people were strong. Too strong.

“Reliana, are you okay?” I asked. She dropped to her knees, her hand trembling.

She was more shaken than I was.

“I-I’m fine,” she whispered, holding out her hand toward me. I grasped it and pulled her to her feet.

“Did you know them? Especially the man in glasses?” I pressed. His calm demeanor hid something dangerous, something far worse than the bald man.

She shook her head. “I only know that bald freak. His name is Gram. He’s the mercenary who killed my mother.”

So they were mercenaries.

That raised an unsettling question. Was this the standard of everyone in Gravemorne?

We were about to find out as the shadowed city loomed before us.